Date indicator



R. ELMS DATE INDICATOR Sept. 3, 1940.

Filed Dec. 14, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 ilHonw/v Sept. 3, 1940. R. ELMS DATE INDICATCR Filed Dec. 14, 1936 Fig. 5.

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Foerr z. Z2219 ail/2412 R. ELMS DATE INDICATOR Sept 3, 1940.

Filed Dec. 14, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 3, 1940. R. ELMS 2,213,462

DATE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 47 Z4 Z5 50 6 7/62 7/ 5245 46 26 4.9 /9 8 /2 Flg. 5 9 a Sept. 3, 1940. ELMS DATE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 3, 1940- R. ELMS 2,213,462

DATE INDI CATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1936 Fig. 12.

8 Sheets-Sheet 6 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIHI u I ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1940. ELMS 2,213,462

DATE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATI'OP/VEY Sept. 3, M

DATE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet a 2415 &

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 14,1936, Serial No. 115,851 In Great Britain December 23, 1935 23 Claims.

My invention relates to date indicators, and is especially applicable to clocks.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved form of date indicator mechanism.

My invention consists in the combinations of parts set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a clock with which my invention is incorporated, while Figure 2 shows a side elevation.

Figure 3 shows a sectional elevation of the clock shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a detail of the rear window for use in setting the date indicator mechanism.

Figure 5 shows a front elevation of the date indicator mechanism with the months dial and days of the month dial partially removed.

Figure 5ashows a detail view of the trip mechanism for the months dial just before being tripped, while Figure 5b shows the tripped.

Figure 5c shows a section through the line 5c5c on Figure 5b.

Figure 5d shows a section through the line 5d-5d on Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows a detail View of part of the date indicator mechanism on the completion of a month of thirty days.

Figures 7 and 8 show similar views on the completion of a month of twenty-nine days and twenty-eight days respectively.

Figures 9 and 10 show detail views of the mechanism for automatically increasing and decreasing the gap in the gap disc.

Figure 11 shows a detail view of the the mechanism for operating the notched disc.

Figure 12 shows a detail view of the hourhand sleeve and minute-hand spindle with their associated parts.

Figure 13 shows a section through the line vI3-l3 on Figure 5.

Figure 14 shows a section through the line l4-l4 on Figure 5.

Figure 15 shows a detail view of the mounting of the days of the month dial.

Figure 16 shows a section through the line iE|6 on Figure 15.

Fig. 17 is a front elevational View in more or less diagrammatic form of a modification of the invention and illustrating an arrangement of date indicator mechanism for indicating the day of the week, the day of the month and the month.

Figure 18 shows a front elevation of a further mechanism after being modified form of date indicator mechanism, in which the day of the month is indicated by number wheels.

Figure 19 shows a side elevation partly in section of the mechanism shown in Figure 18. 5

In carrying my invention into elfect, according to one form and as applied by way of example to an electrically driven clock I, Figures 1, 2 and 3, arranged to indicate the month and the day of the month, I arrange a plate 2, Figures 3 and 5, in front of the front plate 3 of the clock mechanism, and rigidly attach these plates together by means of screws 3a. The hour-hand sleeve, 5, Figures 5 and 12, through which the minute-hand spindle 5 extends, passes through a sleeve 6 rigidly attached to the plate 2. The hour-hand l is attached to the front end of the sleeve 4, while the minute-hand 8 is attached to the front end of the spindle 5.

The minute-hand spindle 5 is adapted to be driven by the synchronous motor a through a spindle b, worm c, worm wheel 12, spindle e, worm f, worm wheel a, spindle h, worm 2', and a worm wheel 7', While the hour-hand sleeve 4 is driven from the spindle 5 through the pinion k, toothed wheel 1, pinion m and toothed wheel 11. A spindle o for setting the hands is slidably mounted and carries a toothed wheel p which by pushing the spindle inwards against the action of a spring (not shown) maybe brought into engagement with the toothed wheel Z. The clock mechanism just described is known.

To the right and slightly below the sleeve 4 and spindle 5 for the hands 7 and 8, I mount a spindle 9, Figures 5 and 13, in the plate 2 and also in a bracket it attached to the front of this plate by means of screws ll, so that the spindle 9 is rotatably mounted in these parts. The spindle 9, which drives the date indicator mechanism, projects beyond the rear face of the plate 2 and on the projecting portion has a toothed wheel [2, Figures 3 and 13, rigidly mounted thereon. The toothed wheel 12 is driven from the hour-hand sleeve 4 through the toothed Wheels 12a and the gear ratio being such that the date indicator drive spindle 9 makes one revolution in every 24 hours. Between the plate 2 and the bracket ID a ratchet wheel I3, Figures 5 to 11 and 13 and 14, having 48 teeth is loosely mounted on the date indicator drive spindle 9, and to this ratchet wheel is rigidly attached a disc 14 having notches in its periphery, the function of which will be hereinafter described. In front of the notched disc 14 a snail I5 is rigidly mounted on the date indicator drive spin- 55 26 which maintains it in dle 9. A detent I6 is pivotally mounted on a pin |1 screwed into the plate 2 and is held in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel l3 by a spring l8 fixed to the plate 2 by means of a screw l8a, Figure 5. The detent l6 prevents backward movement of the wheel l3.

A rocker I9, Figures 5 to 8, is pivotally mounted on a pin screwed into the plate 2. The rocker I9 is provided with a pin |9a, Figure 14 which projects from both sides of the rocker, one end of this pin being adapted to co-act with the periphery of the notched disc l4, while the other end of the pin is provided with a roller 2| and co-acts with the snail |5 on the date indicator drive spindle 9. The rocker I9 is also provided with a second pin 22 which senses the periphery of a variable gap disc 23, Figures 5 and 12, hereinafter described. A driving pawl 24 is pivotally mounted on a pin 25 fixed to the rocker l9 and this pawlis provided with a spring contact with a ratchet wheel 21 provided with 31 teeth. To the rocker i9 is connected one end of a tension spring 28 whichat'its other end is connected to a pin 29 fixed to the plate 2 so that the action of this spring tends tomaintain the pin |9a on the rocker in. contact with the periphery of the notched disc Hi and also the sensing pin 22 on the rocker in contact with the gap disc 23.

' A sleeve 39, Figure 12, provided with a flange 3| is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 6 and carries rigidly connected to it the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21, a spacing-sleeve 32, the gap disc 23 and also a 31-to0th gear wheel 69 riveted to the ratchet wheel 21 by rivets'16. The ratchet wheel 21 with which co-acts the driving pawl 24 on the rocker l9, isprovided with a pin 33 which 00- acts with the hook-shaped arm 34 of a bellcrank lever 35, Figure 11, so as to impart a rockingmovement to this-lever on rotation of the ratchet'wheel 21. The lever 35 in its movement actuates a 1 'driverpawl 36 for the 48-tooth ratchet wheel |3 rotatably mounted on the date indicatordrive spindle 9. The hook-shaped arm 34 partially embraces the sleeve 32 between the 31-t0oth-ratchet wheel 21 and the gap disc 223.

The gap disc 23 has a permanent gap formed in its periphery and on'front of this disc there is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 36 a movablemask- 38 having a projection-39, the outer edge 49 of which is adapted to form a continuation of the periphery of the disc. The mask 38 is retained on the sleeve 39 by means of a fork-shaped spring ll secured to the front of the gap disc 23 by the screwed pin 42, the spring 4| also acting to retain the mask in its set position; The mask 38 is adapted to bemoved automatically so that its projection 39 overlaps more or' less the permanent gap and vary the 'efiective length of the gap 31 for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

The mask 38 is provided with a notch 43 in which the arm 44 of a three-armed lever 45 engages. The three-armed lever 45 is pivotally mounted on a screwed pin 46 arranged on the front face of the gap disc 23, while the arm 41 of this lever engages with the'longer arm 48 of a two-armed lever "49 pivotally mounted on a H screwed pin 58 which is also 70' is provided on the pin 58 and islocated between the, head of this pin and the lever 49 so as to 'retain the latter inits set' position. The arm 5| arranged on the front face of the gap disc 23. A spring plate 590 of the lever 49 is adapted to contact with the smaller periphery 'ofthe mask "38" to limit the movement of this lever, and therefore the extent of the gap 31 in one direction. The third arm 52 of the three-armed lever 45 is adapted to be acted on during the rotation of the gap disc 23 in the month of February by the arm 53 of a bell-crank lever 54 pivotally mounted on a pin 55 fixed in the plate 2.

The movement of the lever 54 is limited by stops 56 which co-act with a fixed stop 51 secured to the plate 2, while the arm 58 of this lever co-acts with four fixed pins 59 and 59a spaced apart at intervals on the face of the notched disc l4 rotatably mounted on the date indicator drive spindle 9. A detent 60 is pivotally mounted on a screwed pin 6| arranged on the plate 2 and is provided with a spring 62 which is attached to the plate 2 by the screw 62a and which holds the detent in contact with the teeth of the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21, above described, so as to prevent backward movement of the same. The sleeve 38 together with the parts attached to it are 'retained in position on the sleeve 6 by means of. a retaining member 63 which is attached to the plate 2 by a screw 64.

The bell-crank lever 35, Figures 5, 9 and .10, 25

above described, is pivotally mounted on a pin 65 fixed to the plate 2, and the driver pawl 36 for the 48-tooth ratchet wheel I3 is pivotally mounted on the arm 66 of this lever by means of the pin 61. The driver pawl 36 is provided with a spring 68 connected to the pawl and the arm 66, and this spring maintains the pawl in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel IS.

The toothed wheel 69, Figures 5 and 12, attached to the rear face of the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21, has 31 teeth. This toothed wheel 69 actuates through an intermediate wheel 1| a toothed wheel 12, Figures 5, 5a, 5b 5c and also having 31 teeth which is secured to a spindle13 rotatably mounted at one end in the plate 2 and at its other end in a bracket 14 secured by means of screws 15 to the plate 2. The toothed wheel 1| is rotatably mounted on a screw 1|a screwed into the plate 2. The spindle 13 has also secured to it a snail 16 having a curved slot 11 concentric with the axis of the snail and extending through anangle of about 90 degrees. On the spindle 13 and between the 31-tooth wheel 12 and the snail 16 is loosely mounted the sleeve 18a to which a wheel 16 having a single tooth 19 is fixed, and to the wheel 18 is riveted a pin which projects'into the curved slot 11 in the snail 16. On the plate 2 a striking lever 8| is pivoted on a pin 82 fixed to this plate, and is provided with a pin 83 at an intermediate point in its length. The' interby quickly engaged with and disengaged from a 24-tooth wheel 85 rotatably mounted on a pin 86 fixed in the plate 2. During the period of its engagement the one-tooth wheel 19 rotates the 24-tooth wheel 85 through the distance of two teeth and at the end oi this movement locks it in position.

On the front of the 24-tooth wheel 85 is fixed a second wheel 81 having 12 teeth of square form at one end to the plate 2 by means of a screw 89. The spring 88 prevents backlash of the Wheels 85 and 81. On the front of the 12-tooth with which engages a blade spring 88 attached I wheel 87 a flanged sleeve 96 is rotatably mounted on the pin 86 carrying this wheel and is retained on this pin by a screw 9!. The sleeve 98 is secured to the wheel 8'! by means of its lug Elila and a screw 92. To the flange 90b of the sleeve 96 a dial 93 is secured by means of two screws Ma and a washer 93b, the screws 9311 being screwed into the holes 95. The dial 93 is divided into twelve equal parts and in these parts the months of the year are indicated in sequence. The dial 93 registers with an aperture 99, Figure l, in the face 9'! of the clock, and in this aperture the month is displayed.

To the back of the Z l-tooth wheel 85 a toothed wheel 98 having eighteen teeth is fixed and meshes with a wheel 99 having seventy-two teeth rotatably mounted on a screwed pin I50 arranged on the plate 2. The wheel 99 thus makes one revolution to every four revolutions of the wheel 85 or, in other words, makes one revolution every four years. On the back of the 72-tooth wheel an annular strip lei, Figure l, is divided into four equal parts. This strip is painted white and the four divisions are provided with the numbers 1 to 4. On the back of the plate i: is arranged a window it la extending through an angle of 90 degrees through which these numbers may be viewed. The purpose of these numbers will be hereinafter explained.

On the front end of the sleeve 30 a flanged sleeve id? is mounted, Figures 3, 15 and 16, and is attached to the gap disc 23 by means of a screw I03 which passes through a lug 33a (Figure 15) formed on the flanged sleeve and engages with a screwed hole H1327, Figure 5, in the gap disc. On the flanged sleeve tilt a pin 504 is fixed and this pin engages somewhat loosely with a hole on the days of the month dial M6. The dial 585 is retained on the flanged sleeve i 32 by means of a washer Hill and screws H38, and is positively driven by the gap disc 23. The dial is divided into 31 equal parts and in these divisions the numbers 1 to 31 are arranged in sequence and represent the days of the month. The edge of the dial M35 is provided with notches H351 and with these notches a roller H9 mounted on a lever i ll co-acts. The lever iii is pivotally mounted on a pin H2 fixed to the plate 2. The roller liil is held in contact with the edge of the dial it by means of a spring H3 connected at one end to the lever ill and at the other end to a pin lid fixed in the plate 2. The lever ill in conjunction with the notches Hi9 and the slight play of the pin Hi lin the hole IE5 ensures that the numbers on the dial Hi5 correctly register with the aperture 5 i5, Figure 1. The aperture H5 is equal in size to one of the divisions of the dial ltd and through this aperture the day or" the month is displayed.

The snail E5 on the date indicator mechanism drive spindle 9 is arranged so that the rocker i9 is tripped every night about midnight, and the maximum lift of the snail is such as to move the driving pawl 2-: of the rocker over four teeth of the 3l-tooth ratchet wheel 2's. The face 55a of the snail IE5 is curved so as to permit the tripping of the rocker E9 to take place gradually.

The extent of the gap ill in the gap disc 23 for a month of 31 or 30 days is for a month of 29 days and for a month of 28 days of the circumference of the gap disc.

The periphery of the notched disc M has notches of diflerent depths for months of 30, 29 and 28 days. The notches in the disc M in conjunction with the gap 3! on the gap disc 23 is shown in Figure 5.

causes the rocker E9 to be differentially actuated and the number of teeth through which the ratchet wheel 2? is rotated by the driving pawl 24 to be varied according to the number of days in the month. The normal movement of the 31- tooth ratchet wheel 2? about midnight on each day is the distance of one tooth. On the last day of a month with 31 days this movement is also through one tooth, on the last day of a 3 day month the movement is through two teeth,

on the last day or" a 29-day month the movement is through three teeth, and on the last day of a 28-day month the movement is through four teeth. The periphery of the notched disc 14 is formed with notches to correspond to the above movement extending over a period of four years, i. e., three normal years and one leap year. There is no notch for 31-day months. The notches H6 are those for 30-day months, the notch H1 is for a 29-day month and is twice as deep as the notches for 30-day months while the notches l i3, 563a and H85 for 28-day month are three times as deep as those for 30-day months.

The operation of the date indicator mechanism above described is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the time is about 3 a. m. on the 1st of November of a year which is not followed by a leap year. The months dial 93 shows Nov. in the aperture 95 for displaying the month, in the clock face 97, and the days of the month dial 255 shows 1 in its aperture H in the clock face. The sensing pin 22 on the rocker is is positioned opposite to the gap 3'! on the periphery of the gap disc 23, and the gap is at its minimum, via, 7 of the circumference of the gap disc. The position of the mechanism The rear end of the pin lilo on the rocker i9 is in contact with the outer face of the tooth M9 on the notched disc 14 so that the sensing pin 22 cannot enter the gap 3?. The snail E5 on the indicator mechanism drive spindle 9 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the date indicator mechanism otherwise is at rest. The snail 55 as it rotates makes contact in due course with the roller 2i of the rocker pin its and thereafter causes the roller to be raised and the rocker l9 to swing in the anti-clockwise direction round its pin 253 and against the action of its spring '28. During this movement of the rocker til the rear end of its pin 39a is moved away from the periphery of the notched disc M, the sensing pin is swung away from the periphery of the gap disc 23, and the driving pawl E i for the 3l-tooth ratchet wheel 2? connected to the gap disc 23 is gradually moved forward and engages with the next tooth on this wheel. As the snail l5 trips the rocker 39 about midnight on the 1st of November, the rocker gradually swin s in the clockwise direction round its pin 22B under the action of its spring 28 and moves the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 2'3 through one tooth in the clockwise direction, further movement in this direction being prevented by the sensing pin 22 which now contacts with the periphery of the gap disc 23 at a point slightly to the rear of the trailing edge of the gap 3i as the gap disc 23 has also been moved along with the Bil-tooth ratchet wheel 2?, and also by the pin 90. on the rocker it contacting with the tooth H9. The days of the month dial H86 which is connected to the gap disc 23 has also been rotated through one division in the clockwise direction so that in the aperture 2 115 the number 2 replaces the number The snail l6 co-acting with the one-tooth wheel i9 is also rotated through of a revolution by the train of gearing 59, H and 12 interconnecting it with the 31-tooth ratchet wheel. The above operations are repeated on each succeeding day of the month, the days of the month being displayed in succession in the aperture H5 in the clockface 91.

During the period from about the 11th to the 26th of the month the pin 33, Figures 11 and 12, attached to the 3l-tooth ratchet wheel 2'! contacts with the shank of the hook-shaped arm" 34 of the bell-crank lever 35, and swings this lever in an anti-clockwise direction. The driver pawl 35 connected to the bell-crank lever 35 by the pin 57 is thus moved toward the right in Figure 11 and rotates the ratchet wheel i3 through the distance of one tooth. As the pin 33 continues its movement, it moves away from the shank of the hook-shaped arm 3t and after an interval contacts with the hook of this arm near the point thereof and swings the bell-crank lever 35 in a clockwise direction, so that the driver pawl 36 is moved toward the left in Figure 11, and as its spring t8 holds it in contact with the ratchet wheel i3 during its movement, it engages with the next tooth thereon. This movement of the l8-tooth ratchet wheel l3 moves the notched disc i through of a revolution in the anti-clockwise direction and brings the notch I l6a, Figure 6, opposite to the rear end of the rocker pin I911. The pin We, however, cannot yet enter the notch ilfia as it is prevented from doing so by the contact of the sensing pin 22 with the periphery of the gap disc 23.

This position of the mechanism is shown in Figure 6. With the above movement of the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21, the wheels 69, ii move the wheel 72 through a distance of two teeth and the snail l6 trips the striking lever 81 which on its release strikes the pin Bil on the one-tooth wheel '55. The one-tooth wheel l9 thereby rotates the 2 l-tooth wheel co-acting with it through two teeth and moves the months dial 93 through one division so that Dec is displayed in the aperture in the clock face 97. During the above movement of the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 2i the days of the month dial 103 is also moved through two divisions and now displays 1 in the aperture H5 in the clock face 9'1.

On the 1st of December the snail I5 engages earlier than normally with the rocker pin lSa of the rocker it since this pin is located in the notch 5a of the notched disc I l so that when the rocker is swung in the anti-clockwise direction the driving pawl 24 is moved forward over two teeth. on the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21, while the sensing pin 22 being in the fixed relation with the rocker i9 is moved out of the gap 3'! of the gap disc 25 before the rocker is tripped. After the rocker is tripped, however, the driving pawl 24, which is mounted on the rocker, only moves the ratchet wheel 2'! through one tooth as the gap disc 31? has rotated to such an extent along with the ratchet wheel 21 that the sensing pin 22 in its clockwise movement along with the rocker, contacts with the periphery of the gap disc 25 adjacent to the trailing edge of the gap 31 and thus prevents further movement of the rocker it in the clockwise direction and also prevents the rocker pin lila from entering the notch I lta.

Stated in other words, the sensing pin 22 lies somewhat outside the periphery of the gap disc 23 and opposite the gap therein at the end of the anti-clockwise movement of the rocker l9, so that during the first part of the clockwise movement, after the rocker has been tripped and while the ratchet wheel 27 is being moved through the distance of one tooth, the pin 22 moves to a position wherein it is tangent to the periphery of the disc 23; but as this disc has been rotated through a small arc along with the ratchet wheel 21, the gap 31 has been moved past the pin 22, and hence the pin 22 engages with the periphery of the gap disc 23 preventing further clockwise movement of the rocker l9 and hence preventing further rotation of the ratchet wheel 21. The dial m6 is thereby moved through one division and now displays 2 in its aperture H5 in the clockface 91, and the snail i6 is simultaneously moved through of a revolution by the gear trains 58, H and 12.

The operations above described in which the 3l-tooth ratchet wheel 21 is moved through one tooth about midnight of each day, the dial I06 moved through one division and the snail 16 through of a revolution are repeated during the month of December, and the driver pawl 36 for the 48-tooth ratchet wheel I3 is operated during the month as before and rotates the wheel it through the distance of one tooth. This brings the double tooth HBa, Figure 6 opposite to the rear end of the rocker pin [9a. For the greater part of the 30th of December the sensing pin 22 is in the same position on the gap disc 23 as on the 80th of November, viz., on the projection 39 of the mask 33 at a point adjacent to the leading edge of the gap 31. As the night approaches the snail l5 contacts with the rocker pin lfla of the rocker l8 and swings the latter together with the sensing pin 22 in the anti-clockwise direction so that the pawl 24 engages with the next tooth on the 3l-tooth ratchet wheel 21. About midnight on the 30th as the snail l5 on the date indicator mechanism" drive spindle 9 trips the rocker Hi, the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21 is rotated through one tooth as the sensing pin 22 although opposite to the gap 31 cannot enter the gap owing to the rear end of the rocker pin ita contacting with the double width tooth 9a on the notched disc 94. The dial IDS is also moved through one division so that 31 is displayed in the aperture H5 in the clock face 91 and the snail 16 is rotated through of a revolution in the manner hereinbefore described.

About midnight on the 31st of December the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 27 and the gap disc 23 are again rotated through the distance of one tooth as the snail l5 trips the rocker l9 bringing the gap 3? in the gap disc 23 opposite to the sensing pin 22 which moves into the position illustrated in Figure 5, in which it is opposite to the gap 31. During this movement the dial N36 has been moved through one division so that l is displayed in the aperture H5 in the clockface 91, while the snail l5 co-acting with the one-tooth wheel 19 simultaneously trips its co-acting striking lever 8! so that the dial 93 now displays Jan" in its aperture 98 in the clock face 91.

As the snail l5 swings the rocker 19 in the anticlockwise direction on the 1st of January, the driving pawl 24 is again moved forward so as to engage with the next tooth on the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 21, and as the rocker I9 is tripped about midnight, this ratchet wheel is rotated through the distance of one tooth and the gap disc 23 along with it. The sensing pin 22 now contacts with the periphery of the gap disc 23 at a point adjacent to the trailing edge of the gap 31. The dial I06 is also rotated through one division and displays 2 in the aperture H5 in theclockfa-ce .91, while the snail 16 is simulgradually moves the taneously moved through of a revolution by the wheel train 69, H and 12.

The same operations take place for the remainder of the month of January as have been described for the month of December, and as both these months have 31 days, a single tooth 9a extending for of the circumference of the notched disc i4 is provided for these months. The change from January to February is likewise performed in the same manner as from December to January.

During the month of February, the notch 8a, Figure 8, of the notched disc I4 is brought opposite to the rear end of the rocker pin I9a of the rocker l9 by means of the driver pawl 36 in the manner above described. The notch H811 is three times as deep as the notch for a 30-day month as the year in question is not a leap year. When the notched disc l4 has been moved counterclockwise by the pawl 36 through a space of t gof its circumference from about the 11th to the 18th of this month (February) its pin 59 has at the same time moved the arm 58 in a clockwise direction and caused the arm 53 to be brought into a position where it is in the path of movement of the arm 52 on the three-armed lever 45. Thus when the gap disc 23 is turned clockwise by the pawl 24 from about the 22nd to the 26th of the month, the arm 52 will be engaged and pushed inwardly by the arm 53, thereby causing the mask 39 to be rotated to increase the gap to of the circumference of the gap disc. The longer arm 48 of the two-armed lever 49 has also been swung outward by the three-armed lever 45 beyond the periphery of the gap disc 23. With this disposition of the parts, the sensing pin 22 on the 28th of February is located on the projection 39 of the mask 38 close to the leading edge of the gap 31. About midnight on the 28th as the rocker I9 is tripped, the driving pawl 24 ratchet wheel 21 due to the I5 so that when the ratchet moved through the distance of one tooth by the driving pawl, the gap 3'! of the gap disc 23 is opposite to the sensing pin 22, whereby on further movement of the snail E5 the sensing pin 22 is allowed to move into the gap 31 and hence the driving pawl 24 is allowed to move the ratchet wheel 21 through three additional teeth due to the fact that the rocker pin l9a has moved into the notch ll8a which is three times as deep as the notches I [6. This position of the parts is shown in Figure 8. The dial N36 is simultaneously moved through four divisions, i. e., from 28 to 1. so as to display the latter number in the aperture l i5 and the snail 16 moves through & of its circumference and trips the lever 8! so that the one-tooth wheel 19 moves the dial 93 so as to display Mar. in the aperture 86. On the movement of the rocker IS in the anti-clockwise direction by the snail l 5 on the 1st of March, the driving pawl 24 moves forward over four teeth on the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 2'! while simultaneously therewith the sensing pin 22, as it is in fixed relation with the rocker l9, is swung out of the gap 3'! before the rocker I9 is tripped, but after being tripped this wheel only moves through the distance of one tooth in the clockwise direction since the gap disc 23 moves along with the ratchet Wheel 27 and at the end of the movement the sensing pin 22 now contacts with the periphery of the gap disc 23 adjacent to the trailing edge of the gap 31. The dial 195 now shows 2 in the aperture I [5 in the clock face 97, and the snail 76 moves through of its circumferdrop on the snail wheel 27 has been ence simultaneously with the above movement of the ratchet wheel 21, in the manner above described.

From the 2nd to the end of March the same operations take place as were described above for December and January but with this additional operation that the sensing pin 22, Figure 10, contacts with the projecting arm 48 of the two-armed lever 59 mounted on the gap disc 23 during the period from about the 8th to the 12th of the month, and swings the lever 39 together with the three-armed lever 35 so as to close the gap 3? to of the circumference of the gap disc. The bell-crank lever which co-acts with the pin 59 on the notched disc M is returned by gravity to its original position on the next movement of the notched disc 14.

If it is leap year the operations for the month of February are similar to those just described, with the exception that the gap 3? is only increased to X as shown in Figure 7, of the circumference of the gap disc 23, and on the 29th of February the sensing pin 22 is on the projection 39 of the mask 38 close to the leading edge of the gap 37. The notch l l l which is operative in this case permits a movement of the 3l-tooth ratchet wheel 21 through three teeth after the snail l has tripped the rocker [9 about midnight on the 29th of February. The position of the parts after the rocker l9 has been tripped on the 29th of February is shown in Figure '7, in which position the dial I05 would show "1 in its aperture H5 in the clock face 9? and the dial 93 would show Mar. in its aperture 95 in the clock face. When the rocker I 9 is moved in the anti-clockwise direction by the snail 5 on the 1st of March, the rocker moves forward over three teeth of the 31-tooth ratchet wheel 27 and simultaneously therewith the sensing pin 22, as it is in fixed relation to the rocker i9, is swung out of the gap 3'! of the gap disc 23. After the rocker i9 is tripped about midnight on the 1st of March it only moves the wheel 2'! through one tooth as the gap disc 23 moves along with the ratchet Wheel 2'! so that the sensing pin 22 on the clockwise movement of the rocker 89 contacts with the periphery of the gap disc 23 at a point adjacent to the trailing edge of the gap 37 and thus prevents the rear end of the rocker pin Ha from entering into the slot ill. The width of the gap for the leap year month of February is adjusted to of the circumference of the gap disc 23 by suitably locating the pin 59a on the notched disc i l at a greater distance from the circumference of this disc than the pins 59 to give the necessary lesser movement of the arm 58.

As the remaining months of the year are of 30 or 31 days the operations of the date indicator mechanism are similar to those hereinbefore described for months having the same number of days.

The purpose for choosing the minimum gap 3'! in the gap disc 38 as equal to A of the circumference of the gap disc rather than thereof is as follows: As the pin 22 moves into the gap 37 in those months where the pin 19a is opposite to a notch H5 in the notched disc M, the driving pawl 24 at the same time turns the ratchet wheel 2? and gap disc 38 through the space of of the circumference of the gap disc, and therefore an extra space of $4 must be left in the gap for the pin 22 to move into.

It will be seen that with the above mechanism a perpetual date indicator is provided which funccorresponds to a leap year.

face 91.

tions without adjustment being necessary for leap years.

In order to set the date indicator mechanism before starting the clock, the dial "II in the window IOIa at the rear of the plate 2 is utilized, Figures 2 and 4. The number 4 on this dial If the clock is to be started in the year before a leap year, the date indicator mechanism is hand-operated by means of a key, not shown, which is inserted in the hole I20 in the spindle I20a and which by rocking to and fro operates the rocker I9 by means of the arm I2I, the arm I2I being connected to the spindle I20a. The arm I2I co-acts with the pin I22 on the rocker I9. This mechanism is operated until the number 3 appears in the Window IBM and then continued until the correct date appears in the apertures 96 and I I5 in the clock During this setting operation care should be taken that the snail I5 is not in contact with the roller 2| on the rocker pin I9a, as the date indicator mechanism drive spindle 9 and the snail I5 co-acting therewith are not used in the setting operation. After the correct date is displayed in the apertures 96 and I I5, it is only necessary to set the clock hands at the correct time and then to start the clock.

In some cases a dial for displaying the days of the week may be included in the date indicator mechanism, and an arrangement of this kind is shown diagrammatically in Figure 17. In this arrangement the months dial 93a is operated from the 3l-tooth wheel 69a through the intermediate toothed wheels 1Ia, H2), H0, a 31-tooth wheel 12a, a spindle 13a and a trip mechanism consisting of a snail, not shown, a striking lever 010., a one-tooth wheel 18a and a 24-tooth wheel a, in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described with reference to the dial 93.

The arrangement for displaying the days of the week is'as follows:

In the plate 2 a hole I23 is formed and through this hole abroad toothed-wheel I24 extends. Behind the plate 2 the toothed wheel I24 engages with a toothed wheel I25 which in turn engages with a toothed wheel I26 fixed to the hour-hand sleeve 4. In front of the plate 2 the toothed wheel I24 engages with a toothed wheel I21 which engages with a toothed wheel I28 rigidly attached to the spindle I29. The gear ratio of the wheel train is so arranged that the toothed wheel I26 makes two revolutions for one revolution of the toothed wheel I28. The dial I30 showing the days of the week is actuated from the toothed wheel I28 through a one-tooth wheel I3I, which is loosely mounted on the spindle I29 and which is actuated by the lever I32 on the latter being tripped by a snail, not illustrated, and through a toothed wheel I33 rigidly attached to the dial I30 in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described in connection with the dial 93, the dial I30 having one set of the days of the week thereon. The remainder of the mechanism is similar to that previously described. The day of the week, the day of the month, and the month are displayed in appropriate apertures in the face plate of the clock. I

In Figures 18 and 19 I have illustrated more or less diagrammatically an arrangement of date indicator mechanism in which the days of the month are displayed on the rims of numeral wheels. In this case the snail I5 has a maximum lift which causes the rocker I9 to move through a distance corresponding to five teeth of the ratchet wheel 21. Further the rocker I9 15' .wheel21. thirty-three teeth, while the ratchet wheel 21a corresponding teeth on the wheel provided with'two driving'pawls 24 and 24a, the pawl 24 co-acting with the ratchet wheel 21, while the pawl 24a co-acts with the ratchet wheel 21a rigidly'attached to the ratchet wheel 21. The diameter of the wheel 21a is equal 'to that of the The ratchet wheel 21 in this case has has. only two teeth and these teeth are arranged at an angle of degrees in relation to each other. The driving pawl 24 is provided with an extension I40 which .co-acts in the manner hereinafter described with a pin MI fixed on the side plate 2. The arrangement of the parts is such that normally the snail I5 swings the rocker I9 in the anti-clockwise direction so that the pawl 24 moves over two teeth of the wheel 21.

The function of the driving pawl 24a and the wheel 21a. will be hereinafter described.

The ratchet wheels 21 and 21a. togetherwith the gap disc23 are rigidly mounted on a sleeve I42 which is rotatably mounted on the spindle I43. The spindle I43. passes through a hole in the plate 2 and is rigidly mounted in a bracket I44 arranged on the rear side of the side plate 2,

and attached to this plate by means of the screw 1 I45. Onthe sleeve I42 a toothed wheel I46 is rigidly mountedand engages with a pinion I41 rigidly mountedv on a spindle I48 rotatably mounted in the side plates 2 and 2a,. The ratio of. the gear wheels I45, I41 is 3 to 1. On the spindle I48 a flanged sleeve I49 isrigidly mounted and this sleeve is attached to a disc I50 bymeans of screws I5I. The disc I50 has three pairs of axially projecting teeth, I52, I53. and I54 with a recess I55 formed between the teeth of each pair.

The units numeral wheel I55 has a series of numerals fully described later in the specification, in which series there are two successive numerals l. The units numeral wheel. I56 is rigidly attached to the disc I551. The teeth I52 are located between the second numeral. l and the numeral 2, the teeth I53 between the numerals 3 and 4, and theteeth I 54 .between the numerals 5 and "6 of the units .numeral wheel I56. A toothed wheel I51 is attached to a flanged sleeve I58 by means of screws I59, the flanged sleeve being rotatably mounted on the spindle I48. The toothed wheel I51 has thirty-six teeth and the tens numeral wheel I60 is rigidly attached to this wheel.

A transfer shaft I6I is rotatably mounted in the side plates 2 and 2a., and on this shaft an B-tooth wheel I62 is rigidly mounted. The wheel I62 engages with the pairs of teeth I52, I53 and I 54 in succession as the disc I50 together with the units numeral Wheel 1563 is rotated. Adjacent to the wheel I62 a second toothed wheel I63 is rigidly mounted on the transfer spindle I6I and the latter wheel has only four teeth having twice the pitch of the teeth on the Wheel I62. The

teeth on the wheel I53 are in alignment with I62. The wheels I52 and I63 are equivalent to a mutilated toothed wheel having its alternate teeth cut away for half of their length.

A third toothed wheel L94 having sixteen teeth is rigidly mountedon the transfer spindle "SI and engages with the 36-tooth wheel I51.

The periphery of the units numeral wheel I56 is divided into eleven equal divisions and in these divisions the numerals 0, 1, 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, '1, 8 and 9 are arranged in sequence. The periphery of the tens numeral wheel I60 is divided into nine divisions, two of these divisions being blank, and

'with the numerals 1, 2 and 3 in the remaining divisions arranged in the following sequence, viz., 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, blank, blank.

When one of the pairs of teeth I52, I53, or I54 engages with and is disengaged from the wheel I62 the latter is rotated through A; of one revolution, and is locked in position by the points of two adjacent teeth on the wheel 63 engaging with the periphery of the disc use. During the above movement the tens numeral wheel MS is rotated through ,4, of one revolutionv or through one division by way of the spindle 96!, wheel M4 and wheel ital. The teeth H53 cause a change of the tens numeral wheel ltil from the first l to the second 1 or from the first 2 to the second 2 or from the 3 to the first blank, the teeth i5 3 cause a change of the wheel i556 from the second 1 to the third 1 or from the second 2 to the third 2 or from the first blank to the second blank, and the teeth I52 from the third 1 to the first 2 or from the third 2 to the or from the second blank to the first 1 of the wheel E69. Further, when the 33-tooth ratchet wheel 2? is moved through the distance of one tooth by the pawl 24, the units numeral wheel E55 is rotated through of one revolution or through one division by way of the sleeve i l-2, wheels MS and EM, and shaft 48.

From the numerical sequence of the units numeral wheel E56 it will be evident that on the 10th and 20th or alternatively on the 11th and 21st of each month it will be necessary to rotate the units numeral wheel :56 through two units so as to skip one of the two numerals l on this wheel. For this purpose the pawl E ia and the 2- tooth ratchet wheel 21a are provided. In the present example the skipping takes place on the 11th and 21st of each month, but if it is desired that this operation take place on the 10th and 20th, the position of the teeth on the 2-tooth ratchet wheel 27a is altered to correspond. The manner in which one of the numerals l is skipped is as follows: The pawl as during its forward stroke ordinarily moves through a distance equal to two teeth of the ratchet wheel 27, but due to the engagement of the extension ME) on this pawl with the pin Mi, the pawl M on its return stroke moves the ratchet wheel 2? only through the distance of one tooth. On the 11th and 21st of each month the pawl 2 3a. engages behind one of the two teeth on the ratchet wheel Zia at the same moment that the pawl 24 is raised out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 2? by the engagement of the extension Mil and pin Ml. Then when the succeeding return stroke of the two pawls, 2 S and 250., takes place, the pawl 2 5a drives the wheel 27a and with it the wheel 2'! through the distance of one tooth (while the pawl 2G is maintained out of contact with the wheel 2? owing to the extension use thereof riding on the pin Mi), after which the pawl 2d drops into contact with the wheel 2i and is pulled along with the pawl 250. as the latter moves the wheels 27 and Bio. through the remaining distance of one tooth, making a total distance of two teeth through which the wheel 2? is moved.

The notched disc M, the mask -38 together with the mechanisms for actuating these parts, and the driving mechanism for the snail are similar to those in the first arrangement described. Further, instead of the time being shown by hands on a dial, it may be shown by displaying appropriate numerals in apertures by any of the known mechanisms for this purpose.

The operation of the arrangement just described is as follows:

It will be understood that the rocker i9 is tripped each day about midnight by the snail [5 in the manner hereinbeiore described with reference to the first arrangement, and that the resulting movement of the ratchet wheel 2? is through one tooth except on the 11th and 21st of each month and on the last day of months having a number of days other than thirty-one. The normal movements of the rocker i9 and the pawl 2:? are as follows:

The rocker i5 is swung by the snail 55 in the anti-clockwise direction against the action of the spring 23 during the evening as in the first described arran ement, except that in the present case the movement of the rocker i 5 is of such extent that the pawl 24 moves over two teeth of the wheel During the latter part of this movement of the pawl its extension i ifil moves onto the pin ME so as to lift the pawl 24 out of contact with the wheel 2?. When the snail 15 trips the rocker E9 about midnight as in the arranement first described, the rocker i9 is swung in the clockwise direction by the spring 28 and during the first part of this movement, as the extension Hit of the pawl 23 rests on the pin Hit, the pawl 2 is prevented from engaging with the last of the two teeth over which it passed in the preceding anti-clockwise movement of the rocker 5; and when the extension 5% has moved off the pin Mi in the latter part of the clockwise movement of the rocker iii, the pawl 26 engages with the tooth of the wheel 2? next to that with which it previously engaged and then moves the toothed wheel through the distance of one tooth as determined by the gap disc 23 in exactly the same manner as in the arrangement first described. The movement of the wheel 2"! is transmitted as above described to the units numeral wheel 553 which is accordingly moved through one division.

The movements of the rocker i8 and pawl 24 at the end of a month having 31 days is as above described for their normal movements, the extent of the clockwise movement or" the rocker 59 on the 30th and 31st of the month in this case being determined by the notched disc M as in the first described arrangement.

In the case of a month having 33 days the movements of the rocker and the pawl Ed on the last night of the month are similar to their normal daily movements above described except that after being tripped by the snail about midnight the movement of the rocker 59 in the clockwise direction causes the pawl 24 to rotate the wheel 2'5 through two teeth in the same manner as in. the first described arrangement and consequently to move the units wheel through two divisions. On. the night of the first day of the next month the snail 15 moves the rocker i 9 in the anti-clockwi e direction so that the pawl 24 slides over three teeth of the wheel 2i and on the succeeding movement of the rocker i 9 in the clockwise direction the pawl 25 engages with the second tooth advance of that with which it previously engaged and moves the wheel 2? through one tooth and the units numeral wheel 55% through one division. 7

In months having 29 or 28 days the movements of the rocker and pawl 24 on the night or" the last day of the month are similar to their normal movements with this difference that the clockwise movement of the rocker it is of such extent as to cause the pawl 2 to move the wheel 2'? through three or four teeth respectively as in the first described arrangement, and consequently to rotate the units numeral wheel 558 through three or four divisions. On the night of the first day of the following month the snail I5 moves the rocker I9 in the anti-clockwise direction so that the pawl 24 moves over four or five teeth according as the month has 29 or 28 days, and to engage either with the third or fourth tooth of the wheel 2! in advance of the tooth with which it previously engaged and on the succeeding clockwise movement of the rocker I9 the pawl 20 moves the wheel 21 through the distance of one tooth, and the units numeral wheel I56 through one division.

On the first day of a month having thirty-one days the first of the two blanks on the tens numeral wheel I60 and the second of the two numerals l on the units numeral wheel I56 are displayed in the aperture I65. About midnight on this day the units numeral wheel I56 is moved through the one division as above described so that the numeral 2 is displayed in the aperture I65. When the units numeral wheel I56 moves from the above position and brings the numeral 3 opposite to the aperture I65, the pair of teeth I54 simultaneously moves the tens numeral wheel I60 through one division as above described so that the second of the two blankson the tens numeral Wheel is brought opposite to the aperture I65. From the 3rd to the 9th of the month the units numeral wheel I56 is moved through one division on each day and brings the numerals :14, M52) 0 7}!) us) a d 9;: in Succession Opposite to the aperture I65. On the 9th of the month as the units numeral wheel I56 is moved through one division to bring the numeral 0 opposite to the aperture I65, the tens numeral wheel I60 is simultaneously moved through one division by means of the pair of teeth I52 and brings the first of its three numerals 1 opposite to the aperture I65 which thus shows 10.

On the 10th of the month the units numeral wheel I56 is moved through one division so that in the aperture I65 the number 11 is displayed, while on the 11th of the month the pawl 20a engages with the corresponding tooth on the ratchet wheel 21a, and moves the units numeral wheel I56 through two divisions so that the second of its numerals l is skipped and the numeral 2 is brought opposite to the aperture I65. Simultaneously with this movement of the units numeral wheel I50 the pair of teeth I53 moves the tens numeral wheel I60 through one division and the second of its three numerals l is brought opposite to the aperture I65 which then displays 12. When the units numeral wheel I56 moves to bring the numeral 3 opposite to the aperture I65 the tens numeral Wheel I60 is rotated through the action of the teeth I through one division so as to bring the third of its three numerals "1 opposite to the aperture I65 which then displays 13.

The changes from the 13th to the 19th of the month take place similarly to the changes from the 3rd to the 9th, the units numeral wheel I56 being moved to bring its numerals l, 5, 6, '7, 8, and 9 opposite to the aperture I65 on successive days of the month, while the tens numeral wheel I remains with the third of its three numerals l opposite to this aperture. The change from the 19th to the 20th is made in a similar manner to that from the 9th to the 10th, the units numeral wheel I56 moving through one division to bring its numeral "0 and the tens numeral wheel I60 moving through one division to bring the first of its three numerals 2 opposite to the aperture I which then shows 20. The changes from the 20th to the 30th of the month '2 opposite to the aperture I65,

l is skipped and simultaneously therewith the tens numeral wheel I60 is moved by the pair of teeth I53 to bring the second of its three numerals while on the next movement of the units numeral wheel I56 the third of the three numerals 2 on the tens numeral wheel IE0 is brought opposite to the aperture I65 by means of the pair of teeth I54. On the change from the 29th to the 30th the tens numeral wheel I60 is rotated by the pair of teeth I52 to bring its numeral 3 opposite to the aperture I65. 7

The change from the 30th to the 31st of the month is efiected by the movement of the units numeral wheel through one division, and on'the succeeding movement of this wheel the second of its two numerals l is brought opposite to the aperture I55, while simultaneously therewith the first of the two blanks on the tens numeral wheel is also brought opposite to this aperture by the pair of teeth I53.

For months of 30, 29 and 28 days the operations during the month is similar to that above described for the 31-day month, with the exception that on the last day of a 30-day month the units numeral wheel I56 is rotated through two divisions by the pawl 20, while the tens numeral wheel I60 is rotated through one division by the pair of teeth I53. The units numeral wheel therefore skips the first of the numerals 1 thereon, while the tens numeral wheel I60 moves from 3 to the first blank thereon.

On the last day of a 29-day month the units numeral wheel I56 is rotated through three divisions by the pawl 24, while the tens numeral wheel I60 is moved through two divisions by the engagement of the pairs of teeth I52 and I53 with the toothed wheel I62. The units numeral wheel I56 in this case skips the numeral 0 and the first of the two numerals 1 thereon, while the tens numeral wheel I60 skips the numeral ((3!!- On the last day of a 28-day month the units numeral wheel I56 is rotated through four divisions by the pawl 24, while the tens numeral wheel I60 is rotated through two divisions by the engagement of the twopairs of teeth I52 and I53 with the toothed wheel I62. The units numeral wheel I56 thus skips the numerals 9, 0 and the first of the two numerals 1 thereon, while the tens numeral wheel skips the numeral 3:!-

By means of my invention an efficient form of date indicator mechanism suitable for use in conjunction with clocks is provided which is capable of operation without attention for practically an unlimited number of years, and automatically adjusts itself for leap years.

Although the invention has been described by way of example as applied to an electrically driven clock, its use is not limited to this application, as it may be applied to clocks actuated by spring or other form of power, and may be used as a date indicator without time indication. It may also be applied to hand-operated date indicators.

Further it may be adapted to other arrangements of the calendar than that above described.

Modifications may be made in detail and arrangement of the examples of my invention above described.

I claim:

1. In an indicator the combination of a display member; a toothed wheel attached to said display member; a mutilated wheel meshing with said toothed wheel; a snail having a lost motion connection with said mutilated wheel; a driving member connected to said snail; and a striking lever adapted to be tripped by said snail to operate said mutilated Wheel.

2. In an indicator the combination of a display member; a toothed wheel attached to said display member; a one-tooth wheel gearing with said toothed wheel; a snail having a lost-motion connection with said one-tooth wheel; a driving member connected to said snail; and a striking lever adapted to be tripped by said snail to operate said one-tooth wheel.

3. In a date indicator the combination of units and tens numeral wheels for displaying the days of the month; gearing interconnecting said numeral wheels; oscillating means for driving said units numeral wheel; means for controlling the movement of said oscillating means; and means for periodically varying the extent of the movement imparted to said units numeral wheel normally by said oscillating means and with normal movement of said oscillating means.

4. In a date indicator the combination of units and tens numeral wheels for displaying the days of the month; gearing interconnecting said numeral wheels; ratchet wheel means and driving pawl means for driving said units numeral wheel; means for controlling the movement of said ratchet and pawl driving means; and means for periodically increasing the extent of the movement imparted to said ratchet wheel means normally by said driving pawl means and with normal movement of said driving pawl means.

5. In a date indicator the combination of units and tens numeral wheels for displaying the days of the month; two ratchet wheels in fixed relation to each other for driving said displaying means; two driving pawls for said ratchet wheels; a rocker member carrying said driving pawls; means for oscillating said rocker member; means for controlling the amplitude oi the oscillations of said rocker member; and means for raising one of said pawls out of engagement with its co-acting ratchet wheel for part of its operative movement while the other pawl is in operative engagement with its ratchet wheel.

6. In a date indicator the combination of units and tens numeral wheels for displaying the days of the month, gearing including mutilated wheels interconnecting said units and tens numeral wheels; ratchet Wheel and driving pawl means for actuating said units numeral wheel; means for controlling the movement of said driving pawl means, said controlling means including a gap disc and a notched disc; and means for periodically effecting an increased movement of said ratchet wheel means with normal movement of said driving pawl means.

7. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; ratchet wheel means in driving connection with said indicating means; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member for determining the operative extent of said gap, mounted on said gap disc; a disc having notches on its periphery, mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet Wheel means, said driving means feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means for intermittently rotating said notched disc autoinatically; together with means for automatically positioning said mask on said gap disc for initiating operating movements of increased amplitude of said driving means at the end or" months having less than thirty-one days, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc.

8. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; ratchet wheel means in driving connection with said indicating means; a disc having a gap on its periphery connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member for determining the operative extent of said gap, mounted on said gap disc; a disc having notches on its periphery, mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet wheel means, said driving means feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means for intermittently rotating said notched disc automatically; means for automatically positioning said mask on said gap disc for initiating operative movements of increased amplitude of said driving means at the ends of months having less than thirty-one days, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; a gear wheel attached to said ratchet wheel means; means for indicating the names of the months; together with means coacting with said gear wheel for shifting said month indicating means.

9. In a date indicator the combination or" means for indicating the days of the month; cloci mechanism; ratchet wheel means in driving connection with said indicating means; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member for determin'ng the operative extent of said gap, mounted on said gap disc; a disc having notches on its periphery, mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet wheel means, driven by said clock mechanism. and feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries or" said gap disc and said notched disc; means for intermittently rotating said notched disc automatically; means for automatically positioning said mask on said gap disc for initiating operative movements of increased amplitude of said driving member at the end of months having less than thirty-one days, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; a gear wheel attached to said ratchet wheel means; means for indicating the names of the months; means ccacting with said gear wheel for shifting said months indicator; means for indicating the days of the week; together with means coacting with the hour-hand sleeve of said clock mechanism for shifting the day of the Week indicating means.

10. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; ratchet Wheel means in driving connection with said indicating means; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member mounted on said gap disc for determining the operative extent of said gap; a disc having notches on its periphery, mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet Wheel means, said driving means feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means coacting with said ratchet wheel means for intermittently rotating said notched disc; means coacting with said notched disc for displacing said mask member from a minimum gap position to positions for initiating operating movements of increased am plitude of said driving means at the end of February in normal and leap years, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; together with means coacting with said driving means for returning said mask memher to the minimum gap position.

11. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; ratchet wheel means in driving connection With said indicating means; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member mounted on said gap disc, for determining the operative extent of said gap; 2, disc having notches on its periphery mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet wheel means, said driving means feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means coacting with said ratchet wheel means for intermittently rotating said notched disc; means coacting with said notched disc for displacing said mask memher from a minimum gap position to positions for initiating operative movements of increased amplitude at the end of February in normal and leap years, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; means coacting with said driving means for returning said mask member to the minimum gap position; a gear wheel connected to said ratchet wheel; means for displaying the names of the months; together with means coacting with said gear wheel for shifting said months indicating means,

12. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; clock mechanism; ratchet wheel means in driving connection with said indicating means; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member mounted on said gap disc for determining the operative extent of said gap; a disc having notches on its periphery, mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet wheel means driven by said clock mechanism and feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means coacting With said ratchet wheel means for intermittently rotating said notched disc; means coacting with said notched disc for displacing said mask member from a minimum gap position to positions for initiating operative movements of increased amplitude of said driving means at the end of February in normal and leap years, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; means coacting with said driving means for returning said mask member to the minimum gap position; a gear wheel connected to said ratchet wheel means; means for indicating the names of the months; means coacting with said gear Wheel for shifting said months indicating means; means for indicating the day of the week; means coacting with the hour-hand sleeve of said clock mechanism for shifting the day of the week indicating means.

13. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said indicating means; a mask member mounted on said gap disc, for determining the operative extent of said gap; a 31-tooth ratchet wheel connectedto said gap disc; a driving spindle; adisc having its periphery notched to correspond to the length of months for a period of four years, rotatably mounted on said spindle; a plurality of pins on said notched disc; a ratchet Wheel having forty-eight teeth, attached to said notched disc; a rocker having a driving pawl for said 3l-tooth ratchet wheel and having feeling members for the peripheries of said gap and notched discs, said rocker being mounted independently of said driving spindle and said 31-tooth ratchet wheel; a snail rigidly mounted on said driving spindle, for moving said driving pawl on said rocker inoperatively over said 3l-tooth ratchet wheel; a spring attached to said rocker for performing its operative movements and driving said 31-tooth ratchet Wheel, the extent of said operative stroke being determined normally by said gap and notched discs coacting with said feeling members; lever means coacting with said pins on said notched disc, for displacing said mask member from its minimum gap position to positions for'February in normal and leap years and initiating operative movements of increased amplitude of said rocker and said driving pawl for said month, the extent of said increased movements being determined by corresponding notches on said notched disc; means coacting with a feeling member on said rocker for returning said mask member to its minimum gap position after displacement therefrom; together With means coacting with said 3l-tooth ratchet wheel for moving said ME-tooth ratchet wheel through part of its circumference in every revolution of said 3l-tooth ratchet wheel.

14. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating thedays of the month; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said indicating means; a mask member mounted on said gap disc, for determining the operative extent of said gap; a three-armed lever on said gap disc, engaging said mask member with one of its arms; a two-armed lever on said gap disc engaging with one of its arms a second arm of said three-armed lever; a 3l-tooth ratchet wheel connected to said gap disc; a pin on said ratchet wheel; a driving spindle; a disc having its periphery notched to correspond to the lengths of the months for a period of four years, rotatably mounted on said spindle; a plurality of pins on said notched disc; a ratchet wheel having forty-eight teeth attached to said notched disc; a rocker having a driving pawl for said 3l-tooth ratchet Wheel and feeling members for said gap and said notched discs, mounted independently of said driving spindle and said 31- tooth ratchet wheel; a snail rigidly mounted on said driving spindle for moving said driving pawl on said rocker inoperatively over teeth on said Bl-tooth ratchet wheel; a spring attached to said rocker for performing the operative movements of said rocker and causing said driving pawl thereon to drive said 3l-tooth ratchet wheel, the extent of said operative movements being determined normally by said feeling members on said rocker coacting with said gap and notched discs; lever means coacting with said pins on said notched disc and engaging the third arm of said three-armed lever on said gap disc to displace said mask member from its minimum gap position to positions for February in normal and leap years and initiating operative movements of increased amplitude of said rocker and said driving pawl for this month, the extent of said increased movements being determined by corresponding notches on said notched disc, and

said mask being returned to its minimum gap position by the engagement of a feeling member on said rocker with the second arm of said twoarmed lever on said gap disc; a two-armed lever having a hooked end on one of its arms and a driving pawl on its other arm, said hooked arm coacting with said pin on said 31-tooth ratchet wheel to cause said driving pawl to rotate said l -tooth ratchet wheel through 5 part of a revolution in every revolution of said Sl-tooth ratchet wheel; a gear wheel attached to said 31- tooth ratchet wheel; means for indicating the names of the months; together with it means coacting with said gear wheel for shifting said indicating means for the names of the months.

15. In a date indicator the combination of units and tens numeral wheels for displaying the days of the month; means coacting with said units numeral wheel for driving said tens numeral wheel; ratchet wheel means in driving connection with said units numeral wheel; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a mask member for de termining the operative extent of said gap, mounted on said gap disc; a disc having notches on its periphery mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet wheel means, said driving means feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means for intermittently rotating said notched disc automatically; means for automatically positioning said mask on said gap disc, for initiating operative movements of increased amplitude of said driving means at the end of months having less than thirty-one days, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; together with means coacting with said oscillating driving means for periodically increasing the movements of said ratchet wheel means during certain months.

16.111 a date indicator the combination of units and tens numeral wheels for displaying the days of th month; means coacting with said units numeral wheel for driving said tens numeral wheel; two ratchet wheels for driving said units numeral wheel, said ratchet wheels being in fixed relation to each other and one of said ratchet wheels having thirty-three teeth and the other ratchet wheel having two teeth; a. rocker member carrying two driving pawls for said ratchet wh els; a disc having a gap on its periphery, connected to said ratchet wheels; a mask member for determining the operative extent of said gap, mounted on said gap disc; a disc having notches on its periphery, mounted independently of said ratchet wheels; means for oscillating said rocker member, said rocker member feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; means for intermittently rotating said notched disc automatically; means for automatically positioning said mask member on said gap disc for initiating movements of increased amplitude of said rocker member at the end of months having less than thirty-one days, the extent of said increased movements being determined by said notched disc; together with means coacting with the driving pawl of said SS-tooth ratchet wheel for holding said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet wheel for part of each operative movement of said driving pawl,

17. In a date indicator the combination of a units numeral wheel having the figures O, l, 1, 2,

3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 8, 9 and a tens numeral wheel having the figures 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, blank, blank, for displaying the days of the month; gearing interconnecting the said units and tens numeral wheels, for effecting transfer of tens and also for effecting movements of said tens numeral wheel in addition to tens transfer; oscillating means for driving said displaying means; means for controlling the movement of said oscillating means; and means for periodically effecting an increased positive driving movement of said displaying means with normal movement of said oscillating means.

18. In .a date indicator the combination of a units numeral wheel having the figures O, 1, l, 2, 3, l, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a tens numeral wheel having the figures 1, l, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, blank, blank, for displaying the days of the month; ratchet wheel means and driving pawl means for driving said displaying means; means for controlling the movement of said ratchet and pawl driving means; and m ans for periodically effecting an increased positive driving movement of said ratchet wheel means with normal movement of said driving pawl means.

19. in a date indicator the combination of a unit numeral wheel having the figures 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and a tens numeral wheel having the figures l, l, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, blank, blank, for displaying the days of the month; two ratchet wheels in fixed relation to each other for driving said displaying means; two driving pawls for said ratchet wheels; a rocker member carrying said driving pawls; means for oscillating said rocker member; means for controlling the amplitude of the oscillations of said rocker member; and means for raising one of said pawls out of engagement with its coacting ratchet wheel for part of its operative movement while the other pawl is in operative engagement with its ratchet wheel.

20. In a date indicator the combination of a unit numeral wheel having the figures 0, l, l, 2, 3, a, 5, 6, Z, 8, 9 and a tens numeral wheel having the figures l, l, l, 2, 2, 2, 3, blank, blank, for displaying the days of the month; gearing including mutilated wheels acting for tens transfer and also for movement of said tens numeral wheel in addition to tens transfer; ratchet wheel and driving pawl means for actuating said units numeral wheel; means for controlling the movement of said driving pawl means, said controlling means including a gap disc and a notched disc; and means for periodically effecting an increased movement of said ratchet wheel means with normal movement of said driving pawl means.

21. In a date indicator the combination of means for indicating the days of the month; ratchet wheel means in driving connection with said indicating means; a. disc having a gap on its eriphery, connected to said ratchet wheel means; a disc having notches on its periphery mounted independently of said ratchet wheel means; oscillating driving means for said ratchet wheel means, said driving means feeling in its normal operative movements the peripheries of said gap disc and said notched disc; together with means for intermittently rotating said notched disc.

22. In an indicator the combination of a rotatable display member; a toothed wheel attached to and movable with said display member; a mutilated wheel meshing with said toothed wheel; a snail having a lost motion connection with said mutilated wheel; a driving member rigidly connected to said snail; and a striking lever adapted to be tripped by said snail to operate said mutilated Wheel.

23. In an indicator the combination of a display member; a toothed Wheel attached to said display member; a one-tooth Wheel gearing with said toothed Wheel and provided with a pin; a snail having a slot forming with said pin a lostmotion connection with said one-tooth wheel; a

drving member for said indicator rigidly connected to said snail; and astriking lever adapted to be tripped by said snail and strike said pin on said one-tooth Wheel and cause said one-tooth Wheel to operate said toothed Wheel and said display member.

ROBERT ELMS. 

